For those of you who don't know, I use a blackberry phone. And I've just recently downloaded an application called Kobo which allows you to read e-books on your phone. For most of them, you have to pay, but I don't really understand how you can purchase it and ya-da ya-da (besides, if I have to pay, I'd rather have the real thing, solid in my hands) so I usually go straight to the free section. One of them is for Harlequin books (eww, right?) and the other is a list of classics, so of course I browse the classic section, because I do love me some classics. There are so many to choose from, and at first I was confused as to which one I should read. And yesterday night before bed, I clicked on them all and read each of their summaries. That was how I came across M. Joseph Bedier's The Romance of Tristan and Iseult. And let me tell you, I was blown away.
The story tells the tragic tale of love between a Cornish Knight, Tristan, and Queen Iseult the Fair. How she had saved him from death. How he slew a dragon to win her hand for his King and uncle, King Mark. How they drank The Philtre, the love potion, the wine of life and death whose effects last a lifetime. How they carried on a relationship full of anguish and agony despite their love for their King...Epic, I'm telling you. Epic! This story broke my heart, it truly did. It was a nice, short tale (only 52 pages on my phone) and I devoured every word. Now I would do anything to get my hands on a copy of the real book. I want to have it with me, tangible. It's so good. To me, it was more heart-breaking than Romeo and Juliet for some reason, even though I believe the love between Romeo and Juliet was more real and pure. Maybe it was because of the language of the story; it was very beautifully written and translated. Seriously, if anyone comes across it, please let me know. I want to buy it! However readers, don't read this review and think, wow, the movie must be good (you know, Tristan & Isolde, the one starring James Franco?). Because, it ain't. That movie, for me, was horrible! It didn't do the tale any justice. If you want to have a real taste of Tristan & Iseult, pick up the book. You won't regret it.
